Hate your new duty station—or just not feeling it yet? We’ve been there: rainy arrivals, brown landscapes, unfamiliar streets, and the ache of starting from scratch. This conversation digs beneath surface-level tips to the deeper shift that actually changes a place: seeing your location through God’s sovereignty and your daily decisions to invest, even when emotions lag behind.

We walk through Jeremiah 29 to reframe exile as assignment, then track the movement in Acts to show how God advances purpose through people on the move. From Fort Sill to coastal North Carolina, we share honest stories—how “get me out of here” became “we don’t want to leave”—and the practices that carried us: asking God what He has for us here, choosing gratitude when the scenery isn’t our style, and joining the rhythms locals already love. You’ll hear practical steps you can try today: unpack the boxes, hang the photos, find one festival or trail, meet a neighbor by name, and build a support web before you need it. If your spouse deploys, we make the case for staying planted where you’re stationed so you can grow roots, receive help, and make reintegration smoother when they return.

We also get specific about why a healthy local church matters more than another stream in your podcast queue. A pastor who knows your context, a small group that shares your load, and a diverse body that reflects your city can turn “temporary housing” into a true home base. Along the way, we swap resources—from neighboring guides to simple rules of life—that help you shift from counting down days to making the days count. Press play for a clear, encouraging path to love where you live, even if you didn’t choose it.

If this resonated, follow, share with a friend who just moved, and tell us one local thing you’ll try this week. Your next step might be the beginning of home.

SHOW NOTES:

1. Love Where You Live: How to Live Sent in the Place You Call Home: Shauna Pilgreen, Frazee, Randy: 9780800735111: Amazon.com: Books

2. The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door: Jay Pathak, Dave Runyon, Randy Frazee: 9780801014598: Amazon.com: Books

3. Holy Hygge- Amazon.com : holy hygge

4. How do I Find a Church in my Military Community? - Praetorian Project

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What if the best way to grow your spouse’s faith is to stop fixing and start asking? We sit down as two couples—Brittany and Joshua, Kelly and Brian—to share the questions, rhythms, and stories that shifted our marriages from pressure to prayer, from assumptions to honest encouragement. No clichés here—just real moments: a five-year-old soccer team coached like Marines, the difference between productive silence and the silent treatment, and the humbling realization that “help” lands only when it fits who your spouse actually is.

We dig into the power of gentle questions—Have you prayed about it? What’s underneath that?—and why nagging always backfires. Brian unpacks how a “helper suitable,” respectful feedback, and steady prayer formed his leadership. Kelly shares how seeing Brian’s love for Scripture stirred her own hunger for the Word. Brittany and Joshua talk about anger met with a gentle answer, burnout from over-stacked spiritual routines, and learning to time hard conversations so truth can be heard. Along the way, we explore complementarian dynamics without caricature, showing how covenant security creates the safety to be fully honest and actually change.

Military families and anyone navigating distance will find a surprising invitation: let separation sharpen connection. Use deployments and busy seasons to discuss desires, discouragements, and your walk with God—beyond chores and calendars. You’ll leave with two simple questions to use weekly, a better way to name what helps and what hurts, and a renewed vision for marriage as a discipleship partnership shaped by Scripture, patience, and prayer.

If this conversation served you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review with the one question you’ll ask your spouse this week.

SHOW NOTES:

1. Take a listen to our episode to the WIVES.

2. Take a listen to our episode to the HUSBANDS.

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Ever felt overwhelmed by scattered thoughts and big emotions? In this intimate conversation about journaling, four friends share how the simple act of putting pen to paper has transformed their spiritual lives and helped them navigate the unique challenges of military family life.

The discussion begins with biblical foundations for journaling, drawing parallels between ancient memorial stones and modern journal entries that document God's faithfulness. While Scripture doesn't explicitly mention journaling, the Psalms essentially function as David's prayer journal, and Peter's instruction to "prepare your minds for action" speaks to how writing helps organize our thoughts.

Each person's journaling journey started differently – during college Bible studies, after hearing a powerful testimony, or during seasons of anxiety and loneliness. What emerges is a beautiful picture of how personal these rhythms become. Some maintain structured morning and evening routines beginning with gratitude; others write whenever emotions threaten to overwhelm. Some journals are neat and organized; others reflect the "hot mess express" of real life.

What makes this conversation particularly valuable for military families is understanding how journaling creates stability amid chaos. Deployments, PCS moves, and the stress of military demands can be processed safely on the page before manifesting in harmful ways. Old journals become time capsules of God's faithfulness, reminding us of past challenges overcome when current circumstances feel impossible.

For those intimidated by starting, the group offers practical encouragement: put your phone away, find a quiet moment, and simply begin. Write what you're thankful for. Write what's bothering you. Write a prayer. The hardest part is sitting down to start, but the rewards – clarity, emotional processing, deeper intimacy with God – are worth the effort.

Ready to transform your spiritual life with this ancient practice? Grab a notebook, set aside a few minutes, and discover how journaling might become your sacred space for growth and connection with God.

SHOW NOTES:

Just try it! 5 minutes a day. Some helpful places to begin

1. 3 things your grateful for

2. What did you read in your Bible?

3. What was hard today? What was a win today?

4. 3 things you delighted in today?

5. One thing you can improve tomorrow.

6. Write out your prayers.

There is NO right or wrong way to journal, the best thing to do is just start, knowing that your practice will grow, shift and change. Keep it simple. Cheers to your new habit!

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